Humidifier.



PATBNTED OCT. 8, 1907'.

G. B. WHITMORE.

HUMIDIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a, 190s.

I111 up rn: mum's PETERS co, WASIIINGI'OIV. D. c:

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. WHITMORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HUMIDIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 8, 1903. Serial No. 138,220.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. WHITMORE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHumidifiers, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that class of devices which is intended toincrease the humidity within a certain space for the purpose ofmoistening and keeping in good condition tobacco, cigars, and the likeas well as for similar and kindred use.

It has for its object more simple and effectual means for the purposeset forth, and consists in the novel construction arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like orsimilar parts; Figure 1, is a side elevation of my improvement,partially broken away to show the construction, Fig. 2, is a top plan ofthe same, Fig. 3, is a section in line 33 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4, is adetail view.

In the drawings 1 represents a casing, preferably cylindrical in shapeand provided with a central cylindrical tube 2, extending from a pointnear the top of the cylinder 1, to the bottom thereof. A horizontallyrotatable fan 3, is positioned in said cylinder 2, with suitable meansto cause the rotation of said fan. As shown a vertical shaft 4, isprovided with a worm 5, driven by a cog-wheel 6, mounted upon a shaft 7.A preferably spring motor drives the shaft 7, as clearly shown in thedrawings. Any preferred form of motor may be employed for this purpose.The casing 1., is provided with a central opening 8, at its topsubstantially registering with. the cylinder 2. When this opening isunobstructed, it will be seen that the operation of the fan which isarranged for that purpose will draw air in at the top of the cylinder 2,and discharge the same at the bottom thereof. Means are provided tocontrol the volume of air permitted to enter the cylinder 2. This may bedone in any preferred manner. As shown in the drawings a pair of slidecover valves 9, 9, are pivotally connected to the top 10, at 11. Byclosing or partially closing the said slides 9, 9, the area of theopening 8, will be varied to control the volume of air permitted to passtherethrough. This is an important feature of my invention, as thehumidity in the atmosphere varies to such an extent, that the use of ahumidifier is sometimes not necessary, while soon after the atmospheremay be so dry and devoid of moisture as to requirea very large quantityof moisture diffused through the apartment. In the preferred form I forma plurality of apertures 12, along the proximate edges of the valves 9,9, so that when the proximate edges of the valves meet those aperturesmay still be uncovered and permit a small volume of air to pass through.Upon further closing the valves, however, the apertures are so arrangedthat each wing serves to cover the apertures formed in the other andthus substantially all the air is prevented from entering the cylinder2. By this arrangement the most complete control is provided for theoperation of the device. It is obvious that any preferred means may beemployed for the purpose of thus controlling the volume of air admittedto the air cylinder, that shown being simple, effective and thepreferred means. Preferably the Patented Oct. 8, 1907.

valves 9, are provided with extensions 9 having upturned ends which formconvenient handles by which the valves may be adjusted.

Means are provided to pass the current of air created by the action ofthe fan 3, through a moist stratum. This may be accomplished in anypreferred manner. As shown in the drawings the base 13, is provided witha preferably foraminated bottom 14, arranged to support a layer ofsponge or equivalent material placed thereon and proportioned tosuitably fill the inclosed space. If desired a similar foraminated cover16, may be placed upon the material 15, to keep the same in position. Asshown such a cover is formed to fit within the shell 13, slots 17, beingformed in the margin thereof and arranged to cooperate with pins 18,extending inward from the shell. By this means the slots may be passedover the pins and given a slight turn to engage the cover with the pinsand retain the cover in place. The bottom of the shell is provided witha number of perforations or holes 19, permitting the escape of the airtherefrom. The base 13, is formed to be suitably connected to the topcylinder 1, in any preferred manner. As shown a simple slip joint .isformed of the two as shown at 20. If preferred a bayonet joint may beformed between the two to insure a suitable connection and preventaccidental disengagement of the same. Fig. 4, shows such a connection.

The mode of operation is apparent. The sponge or equivalent material 15,being suitably moistened is placed in the base 13, and the latter issecurely attached to the cylinder. The spring motor may then be wound upby means of the key 21, and the valves 9, 9, opened as desired. Theoperation of the fan 3, will draw a volume of air into the cylinder 2,dependent upon the opening permitted by the valves 9, 9, said volume ofair being forced through the moist or wet stratum 15, and out throughthe apertures 19, formed in the base 13. If at any time it is found thatthe humidity is too great, the valves may be partially closed to controlthe volume of air forced through the device. The adjustability of thedevice to control the volume of the current of air driven through it isan important feature and permits the device to be regulated to increaseor decrease the humidity.

It is obvious that after having described my improvement variousimmaterial modifications may be made without departing from the spiritof my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myselfto the exact form shown and described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent is;

1. A device of the kind described, comprising an inlet tube the lowerportion of which is enlarged to form a chamber, perforations formed inthe-lower portion of the walls of said chamber, a foraminated platedividing said chamber above the perforations, a layer of porous materialextendingacross saidchamber supported by said plate, an upper perforatedplate spaced from the top of said. chamber, restingupon said porousmaterial, and a regulating valve at the entrance to said inlet tube, incombination with a fan within said tube whereby air may be drawn intothe tube and discharged through the perforations in said chamber afterpassing through said porous material.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising a vertical inlet tubeenlarged at its lower end to form a chamber, and a layer of moist porousmaterial extending across said chamber, in combination wtih a rotary fanpositioned in said air tube and means for driving the same, and a pairof slidable valve plates adapted to jointly cover the upper end of. saidair tube, each plate arranged to be independently moved to vary theinlet to said tube.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a vertical air tube whosecross section is increased near its lower end to form a chamber, ahorizontal layer of moist: porous material extendingacross said chamberat a point about midway of its height and :1 pair oi pivoted valveplates adapted to be operated independently of each other to control theinlet opening to said tube, in combination with a rotary fan within saidair tulle, and means for driving said tan.

4. In a device for humidifying air, an air jacent layer of moist: porousmaterial, a rotary fan and means for driving it, in combination with apair of pivoted slidable v:\lveplates positioned close to the outer endof the air tube, said plates having apertures through their proximateedges, and one of said plates partially overlapping the other;SlIlJSl'tllliltllly as described.

5. A device for humiditying air, an air tube, a sub jacent layer ofmoist porous material. a rotary J'un within the air tube, means fordriving the fan, in combination with a plate 10 having an opening thatsubstantially registers with the top of said tube. and a pair ofvalveplates, one 01. which partially ovei )s the other. said platesbeing pivotally connected to s. d plate 11, and each plate having aplurality of apertures therein, for the purpose described.

tube, a sub- Witnesses .loiix \V. HILL, CnAnLns I. Conn.

